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Disruptions in the local property sector

By Bjorn Biel M. Beltran, Special Features Writer

One of the most talked-about phenomena happening in the world of business right now is disruption. Times are changing faster than many industries can keep up with, and the arrival of the future is creating an upheaval among those still stuck in the past. This is true in real estate as it is in any other, and more so in the Philippines, a country currently in the middle of an economic transformation.

In a newer, faster world of business, the next generation of workers is adapting to a new, more holistic lifestyle. In the Philippines, there has been a record number of individuals buying condominium units, with about 52,600 units sold in Metro Manila during the final quarter of 2017, according to the residential property market report of real estate consultancy firm Colliers International Philippines.

This is significantly higher than 2016’s 42,000 units sold, and the highest number of units sold in the history of Metro Manila.

Real estate consultancy firm Pronove Tai suggested that the record high in condominium take ups in 2017 was attributed to factors such as the country’s robust economy, record high OFW remittances and dollar exchange, and the low-interest environment.

“Furthermore, the demand was driven by the surging interest from young urban professionals as well as foreign nationals to reside in condominium buildings near their workplace,” Pronove Tai CEO Monique Cornelio-Pronove said in an interview with BusinessWorld.

These young professionals, she said, “dominate the working force in office districts and spend more than any other demographic age due to lifestyle orientation, particularly employees under the IT-BPM (Information Technology and Business Process Management) industry.”

The flexibility offered by vertical living spaces has also become more appealing due to the country’s worsening traffic congestion. Workers are choosing to live closer to their workplaces rather than spend three to four hours on their daily commute.

“In addition, these young professionals want to avoid the inconvenience of Metro Manila traffic which reduces productivity and practicality as commuters spend an average 3-4 hours per day on traffic,” Ms. Cornelio-Pronove said, citing a report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

“For efficiency and convenience, these young professionals prefer to invest in condominium buildings for comfort and lifestyle,” she added.

Conversely, flexible workspaces are becoming common in the office property market. Colliers International, in its The Flexible Workspace Outlook 2018 report, said that flexible workspaces are no longer seen as a disruptor nor a complementary sub-sector in the office market, but rather “a fundamental part of commercial real estate and a sector in its own right”.

Colliers International noted the continued growth in flexible workspace demand across key submarkets in Asia-Pacific including the Philippines.

“The growth of flexible workspace demand in the country has been attributed to the thirst for flexibility from multinational corporations (MNCs) as well as increasing demand from small businesses,” the report said.

“Over 200,000 square meter (2.15 million square feet) is occupied by flexible office space operators in Metro Manila alone, with many still looking to expand this year. The profile of tenants using these spaces varies from start-ups, to law firms, MNCs and freelancers.”

Maricris Sarino-Joson, Colliers International Philippines’ Associate Director for Office Services, said that flexible workspaces in the Philippines is forecasted to grow along with the attention that the country is garnering from foreign investors.

“We expect international flexible workspace operators to penetrate the Philippine market in 2018, though given the nuances of the domestic market, this will likely be in partnership with local developers or investors, and in some cases via acquisitions,” Ms. Sarino-Joson said.

“Given the range of end-users in flexible workspace, we expect a wide geographical spread, and operators will likely set up several smaller sites rather than fewer large scale sites due to challenges in transport infrastructure. For this reason, we may see space within retail malls repositioned as flexible workspace,” she added.

Colliers predicted that as small and medium businesses in the Philippines expand, the demand for flexible workspaces would follow all across the country. Aside from Metro Manila, Colliers also sees potential in Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Davao in terms of flexible workspace demand.

Inflation to hit peak in 3rd quarter

INFLATION is expected to keep rising to hit a peak in July to September, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said, but maintained that price pressures will remain temporary and manageable.

The worst is not over for price increases for basic goods and services, with the central bank seeing inflation rising further later this year.

“In terms of our preliminary estimates… we expect inflation to peak by the third quarter of the year. Thereafter, we should be seeing on a monthly basis an inflation rate of four percent or lower than four percent,” BSP Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo told reporters last week.

“That’s the reason why you have an inflation forecast of three percent for 2019. In the last quarter of 2018, we should be seeing 2-4% or lower monthly inflation.”

As of its March 22 meeting, the Monetary Board expects inflation to average 3.9% this year using 2012 as the new base year for consumer prices, which would jump from the 2.9% rate tallied in 2017. This would be the quickest pickup in prices under the new base.

Under the original 2006 base year, inflation will soar to 4.5% from last year’s 3.2%.

These compare to the central bank’s annual inflation target of 2-4%.

The BSP kept rates steady on Thursday even as headline inflation continued its ascent for three straight months, hitting a three-year peak in February at 3.9%, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. The BSP said February’s inflation print reflects the full pass-through cost of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law after it took effect Jan. 1.

TRAIN imposed an additional P2.50 excise tax per liter of diesel and P3/liter for kerosene, which came at a time of three-year highs for world crude prices. The new law also introduced additional taxes on cars, coal, sugar-sweetened drinks and a host of other items that likely drove up prices of other widely-used goods and services.

BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. has said that they acknowledge that inflation will be “accelerated” within 2018, but noted that prices “will come down soon enough within the policy horizon.”

“Today, we don’t see evidence of propagation of inflationary pressures that would threaten our projected path by 2019 of inflation coming down to within-target levels. Nonetheless, there are risks to that outlook,” Mr. Espenilla said.

Mr. Guinigundo said they do not see a strong push for an increase in wages as well as transport fare hikes, which were previously expected to stoke inflation, while cash transfers to poor sectors as well as the proposal to replace rice imports quotas with tariffs are expected to mitigate upward pressures. — Melissa Luz T. Lopez

US-China trade fight depends on Trump goals

WASHINGTON — How bad will the US-China trade fight get? That depends on whether President Donald Trump will settle for a reduction in China’s US trade surplus or hold out for sweeping changes to China’s industrial policies.

After Trump’s announcement on Thursday that he will impose tariffs on up to $60 billion worth of Chinese goods and impose investment restrictions on Beijing, it is far from clear what Trump’s end game is, trade experts say.

Trump repeated on Thursday that he wants a $100-billion reduction in China’s trade surplus, while his top trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, said fundamental changes that allow US companies to keep their technological edge over Chinese competitors were critical to the future of the US economy.

A deal for the latter will not come in the next 45 days before the yet-to-be published US tariff list becomes effective.

“It’s not clear what the Trump administration’s bottom line is,” said Scott Kennedy, the head of China studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

“We know what the Chinese bottom line is. They won’t do anything to relent on their industrial policy system. They won’t clip the wings of China Inc,” he said.

Kennedy said a deal to cut China’s $375-billion US goods trade surplus by $100 billion is far easier to achieve with additional purchases of US soybeans, beef, liquefied natural gas, Boeing aircraft and other equipment.

But fundamental changes such as joint venture requirements that often cannot be negotiated without technology transfers and industrial policies aimed at acquiring and investing in more US technology firms will not come without significant protracted pressure on China — and economic pain for the United States.

“The Chinese will want to throw us a few bones and otherwise go back to the status quo. If you’re talking about actually changing Chinese behavior, it’s a long, painful process,” said Derek Scissors, a China trade expert at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.

It also would take a lot more than tariffs on $60 billion worth of exports from China to inflict significant pain on the government, Scissors said.

China’s goods exports to the United States rose by $43 billion in 2017 alone. And the US demand for Chinese goods is expected to increase in the next few years as US tax cuts boost growth and increase federal borrowing.

So far, China’s response to Trump’s announcement has been muted. The Ministry of Commerce announced additional duties on up to $3 billion of imports from the United States, including fruit, nuts, pork, wine and seamless steel pipe. But these are technically responses to US global steel and aluminum tariffs, not the Trump administration’s anti-China tariffs over intellectual property practices.

China’s ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, declined to rule out cutting purchases of US Treasury debt in the dispute, telling Bloomberg Television on Friday: “We are looking at all options.”

China owned $1.17 trillion in Treasuries at the end of January, compared with $14.8 trillion in total US public debt, according to US Treasury data.

China has also hinted at cutting imports of US soybeans, which totaled $12.4 billion in 2018 — the second largest US export to China after commercial aircraft.

But Beijing is likely waiting for Trump’s final tariff list before it responds more fully. The list is expected to be published within two weeks, then subject to a 30-day comment period and potential revisions by the US Trade Representative’s office after that period ends.

A tit-for-tat escalation of trade retaliation, coupled with Trump’s desire to “look tough on China” will make it harder for the two sides to settle their differences, said Eswar Prasad, a professor of trade policy at Cornell University and a former head of the International Monetary Fund’s China department.

“The hardening stance on both sides, and an unclear game plan in terms of the objectives and end game the Trump administration is striving toward, makes negotiations even more complicated than otherwise,” Prasad said. — Reuters

Economy to withstand higher interest rates

By Melissa Luz T. Lopez
Senior Reporter

THE PHILIPPINE economy is robust enough to afford higher borrowing rates, the country’s central bank chief said, following dovish remarks on monetary policy.

“Economic growth remains solid enough to absorb some policy tightening if warranted,” BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. said in a speech before the Money Market Association of the Philippines, Inc.

“Further, we observe that market mechanisms are working well to enable the economy to automatically adjust to fluid conditions efficiently and avoid serious imbalances, as well as overheating risks.”

The central bank kept benchmark rates within the 2.5-3.5% range at its meeting last Thursday, citing robust domestic economic activity and with inflation seen to remain within the 2-4% target band.

Analysts have been saying that the BSP should kick off tightening moves as soon as possible, with some pointing out that the monetary authority is currently behind the curve especially as the United States Federal Reserve has been raising rates since December 2015.

The BSP, for its part, has kept its monetary policy stance unchanged since September 2014 save for procedural cuts introduced in June 2016 for a shift to an interest rate corridor system.

Inflation hit a three-year peak at 3.9% in February, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Noelan Arbis, economist at HSBC Global Research, said they are pricing in a rate hike from the BSP at its May 10 meeting despite “dovish” remarks from the central bank chief.

“We believe one rate hike is enough for the BSP based on our view that its current reaction function relies on inflation and inflation expectations and not on an overheating economy,” Mr. Arbis said in a report published over the weekend.

“This poses a risk that the BSP passes off this year’s high inflation as merely an effect of the recent tax reform, and so keeps policy rates unchanged.”

Central bank officials continue to insist that the Philippines does not need a fresh monetary stimulus, as growth is expected to continue above six percent for the coming years.

Gross domestic product expanded by 6.7% in 2017, one of the fastest in the region. This year, the government expects aggressive spending on public infrastructure — pegged at P1.068 trillion — to propel growth between 7-8%.

“We want our economy to grow, and it’s a policy call in terms of risks. Right now, there is no reason to move the policy rate because the data is not providing evidence of that,” Mr. Espenilla also said during a briefing on Thursday.

“The central bank doesn’t need to take away the punch bowl — it’s not yet the time. That’s part of our responsibility as part of the economic team that ensures that the country attains economic growth that is sustainable.”

However, Mr. Espenilla said that the BSP stands ready to raise loan rates should price increases turn more broad-based. He noted that the central bank is closely watching out for a shift in inflation expectations, which could prompt tightening moves as needed.

Stock market loses more than P1.5 trillion in value since peak

By Krista Angela M. Montealegre
National Correspondent

A DEEP SELL-OFF has erased more than P1.5 trillion from the Philippine stock market’s value over the last two months, with the lingering weakness expected to continue amid mounting fears of a trade war.

The local equities market’s total capitalization fell 8.4% from its record high of P18.52 trillion on Jan. 29 to P16.97 trillion at the close of the trading session on Friday, according to data from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

The reduction was aggravated by international investors, who have been in net selling territory in the amount of P38.23 billion during the same period, the PSE said.

In February, foreign portfolio investments posted a $545.14-million net outflow, wider than the $409.01 million that left the country in February 2017 and reversing from January’s $162.16-million net inflow, the central bank earlier said.

Around 81% of these placements went to companies listed on the PSE, mostly to holding companies; property firms; banks; food, beverage and tobacco firms; as well as casino and gaming companies.

For the January to February period, hot money settled at $795.16-million net inflow, a turnaround from the $168.41-million net outflow posted during the same period in 2017.

CORRECTION PHASE
With the heavy profit taking, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) has entered a correction phase, or a decline of at least 10% from a recent peak. The bellwether index is now down 12% from an all-time high of 9,058.62 tallied on Jan. 29 after closing at 7,970.80 on Friday.

PSEi Performance

“We can continue to expect volatility in the equity market brought about by negative sentiment in the trade wars in the [United States] and the fear of inflation and further peso weakening in the near term,” Michael Gerard D. Enriquez, chief investment officer at Sun Life of Canada Philippines, Inc., said in a mobile phone message.

Global stocks have been taking a beating after US President Donald Trump inked a memorandum that would slap tariffs on up to $60 billion in imports from China. Investors are worried that US trading partners would respond with retaliatory actions that could potentially launch a trade war.

Those moves came as investors continued to confront the normalization of monetary policy in the US.

Last week, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points and kept its forecast for two more hikes this year. It added another rate rise in 2019 on top of the two increases predicted in December.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) maintained interest rates in the policy-setting meeting last week, with inflation seen to remain on target this year and in 2019 despite price pressures as a result of a new tax program that raised taxes on fuel, coal and sugar-sweetened drinks, among others.

“The market will be weak as it tries to find a new bottom as the trade war talk escalates,” First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) Head of Research Cristina S. Ulang said in a separate message.

Analysts said good first quarter earnings reports, solid economic growth data as well as easing inflation could breathe life back to the market.

“If 7,909 is respected then we might trade sideways between that level and 8,300. If support is breached, we might head to 7,700,” said Raul P. Ruiz, vice-president and research head of RCBC Securities, Inc.

Araneta to develop new budget hotel in Cubao

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter

ARANETA CENTER, Inc. (ACI) plans to launch a new hotel, which will cater to the millennial market, within its 35-hectare property in Cubao, Quezon City.

“We will be coming up with a new hotel.. It will be a lifestyle budget hotel, run by also a popular international brand,” ACI Senior Vice-President for Operations Antonio T. Mardo told reporters on the sidelines of a company event last week.

Mr. Mardo said the new hotel will have around 300 rooms, with a lower price point than ACI’s first hotel in the property, Novotel Manila.

“This will be catering to the millennials… will be directed towards the young traveler, and young families as well,” the ACI executive said.

The introduction of a second hotel forms part of ACI’s P50-billion redevelopment of the Araneta Center complex, which will see more office, retail, and residential projects over the next 10 to 15 years.

For the office component, ACI has recently topped off its second office tower called CyberPark Tower 2. The company plans to launch three more office towers in the coming years, bringing the gross floor area of its office properties to 600,000 square meters (sq.m.).

Mr. Mardo said the towers are expected to attract business process outsourcing companies, as well as Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) once the Quezon City government irons out rules for such businesses.

“The challenge in Quezon City, (POGOs) are not yet an accepted type of business. Maybe we can talk to the city government… It should be pulled to the city because you get to fill up your offices, there is revenue, and you pay taxes to the city. They also get licenses from the city government,” Mr. Mardo said.

ACI is also propping up its retail spaces with the expansion of Gateway Mall. So far, it has brought Gateway Mall 1’s GFA to 100,000 sq.m. The company is adding currently adding 130,000 sq.m. for Gateway Mall 2, and another 100,000 sq.m. for Gateway Mall 3.

“We are going to introduce new concepts that will hopefully entice more people to the Gateway Mall, our new hotel, to Novotel, and to the entire development,” Mr. Mardo said.

For the residential aspect, ACI is currently building the 18-tower Manhattan Residences. 

Mr. Mardo cited Araneta Center’s prime location compared to other developments, given its access to different points in the metro through different modes of transportation through the Metro Rail Transit Line 3, Light Rail Transit Line 2, and provincial buses and UV express terminals.

“The access to transportation, and 24/7 activity. We are probably the only center that has all types of access,” Mr. Mardo said.

Why AI won’t spell the end of Philippine BPO industry

By Krista Angela M. Montealegre,
National Correspondent

EVERISE Holdings, Inc. downplayed fears of massive job losses in the Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) sector as the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to operations gain ground, stressing that new technology can augment human strengths and allow the industry to thrive.

The BPO sector is one of the key pillars of the Philippine economy, employing approximately 1.15 million people and projected to generate close to $40 billion in revenues by 2022. Advancements in AI, automation and other technologies have fuelled concerns of job losses.

Sudhir Agarwal, Everise chief executive officer, said in a recent phone interview it is inevitable that BPO companies will adopt AI and emerging technologies in their operations, as clients demand efficiency in their businesses.

“I don’t think technology will replace people but I think people will have to up-skill themselves. People have to embrace technology to become more efficient and do work faster,” Mr. Agarwal said.

“The ability of using your brain and making a decision should still be done by people. At the end of the day when it comes to problem solving, people like to talk to people, not machines,” he added.

Everise partnered with Microsoft to develop and roll out an AI platform that will offer omni-channel customer service solutions targeting voice, video and text interactions, and deliver an unprecedented intelligent, customer-centric experience.

Leveraging on Microsoft’s AI capabilities, Everise can introduce AI tools and chatbots to existing capabilities such as speech recognition, sentiment analysis and image recognition, eventually translating to a more personalized customer experience.

“Human empathy and human emotions are two of the biggest factors that pretty much suggest that human beings will not be taken over by technology,” Mr. Agarwal said.

Everise operates a C3 Lab, which has been incubating a variety of tools focused on transforming the customer experience by marrying Microsoft technologies with domain knowledge from C3’s customer innovations teams.

C3 Lab is in Las Vegas through BPO firm CustomerContactChannels, with locations opening in Manila and Malaysia.

The BPO company specializes in customer relationship management in numerous industries such as health care, financial services, travel and retail.

Even Everise sees no letup in the expansion of its work force in the Philippines, which has increased to 3,500 people from 2,500 when it acquired the business in December 2016.

“Over the next two to three years our target is to at least double in size in the Philippines. There is still a lot of opportunities to grow in the Philippines,” Mr. Agarwal said.

ABS-CBN says 2 sound stages in Bulacan to be operational by May

ABS-CBN Corp. expects to begin using its two sound stages in Bulacan by May, a move the multimedia giant hopes will help cut production costs.

“Sound stages will be operational by May,” ABS-CBN Chief Financial Officer Aldrin M. Cerrado told reporters on the sidelines of the company’s briefing on March 23.

Mr. Cerrado said the company expects to generate savings, which will be used to finance more content production on different platforms.

“We said around 20% (savings), but these are just two sound stages for two programs. That’s 20%, but that’s just two programs out of our total programs. But at least we save money on a specific program,” he said.

“The good thing about is that we save it we now have extra money to create more content on different platforms, including digital.”

The sound stages, located on a property owned by ABS-CBN in Bulacan, will be used for programs that require visual effects and other significant production demands.

Mr. Cerrado had previously said that using a soundstage for filming will reduce filming time compared with filming on location, and will effectively reduce costs by around 10-15%.

ABS-CBN booked a net income of P3.16 billion last year, above the target of P3 billion disclosed earlier in 2017. This, however, was 10% less than the company’s P3.52-billion in earnings in 2016 when the last presidential elections were held.

If one excluded 2016’s election-related revenues and expenses, Mr. Cerrado said net income would have increased 29% in 2017.

ABS-CBN said revenues fell 2% to P40.7 billion in 2017.

“After every presidential election, normally our regular advertising revenue would drop by 10%. If you recall from 2010 to 2011, there was a 10% drop in revenue by ABS-CBN. But in 2017, even after the presidential election, our revenues were flat, so that’s good news for us,” Mr. Cerrado had said.

ABS-CBN was able to spend P7.9 billion in capital expenditures last year from a budget of P8 billion. — PPCM

San Miguel Brewery’s P35-B bonds keep top credit rating

LOCAL DEBT watcher Philippine Rating Services Corp. (PhilRatings) maintained the top credit rating for San Miguel Brewery, Inc. (SMBI)’s P34.81-billion bonds, citing its continued positive performance and strong position in the market.

In a statement issued over the weekend, PhilRatings said SMBI’s bonds continue to carry its highest issue credit rating of PRS Aaa. This indicates that the company has an “extremely strong” capacity to meet its financial commitments. The rating also has a stable outlook, which means that it is unlikely to change in the next 12 months.

SMBI’s outstanding bonds include Series C bonds worth P2.81 billion due 2019, Series E worth P10 billion due 2019, Series F bonds worth P7 billion due 2022, Series G bonds worth P12.46 billion due 2021, and Series H bonds worth P2.54 billion due 2024.

PhilRatings said it took into account SMBI’s financial conditions, market position, and its management team in coming up with the rating.

SMBI currently has six production facilities in the country, in addition to one brewery each in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, and two more in China. Here, the company manufactures products under the brands San Miguel Pale Pilsen, Red Horse Beer, and San Mig Light.

“Over the years, SMB has demonstrated its ability to anticipate and respond well to market trends with its introduction of new products like San Mig Zero, San Mig Flavored Beer and new product formats like cans and draft beer. These products ride on the back of an extensive and efficient distribution system,” PhilRatings said.

SMBI is currently being consolidated under San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc., as part of the San Miguel group’s effort to merge its traditional businesses. The new entity will then be renamed San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc. — Arra B. Francia

Romance by Rosa Clara

SPANISH ready-to-wear wedding gown designer Rosa Clara gave life to every bride’s fantasy in a show last Friday, showing off her brand’s 2018 collection. The designer herself was in the Philippines for the fashion show which was held at The Peninsula Manila.

As the theme from The Pink Panther played at the start of the show, a model came out wearing a slinky shift dress with an overlay of midnight lace. A second dress featured the same lace (the brand’s trademark, and one of the highlighted fabrics for this year), executed as an overlay on a dress of beige silk.

Other striking designs included a dress with an antique floral print on a full skirt, and a charming number in mint green with crystal cap sleeves.

Rosa Clara 2
Lace is the brand’s trademark, and one of the
highlighted fabrics for this year’s collection.

Of course, the wedding gowns were the highlight of the evening, beginning with a white number with a trailing skirt, with a bow at the waist, and pleats running down the back of the skirt.

Froth and frou frou came with several dresses in Chantilly lace and tulle, including one made of layers and layers of the net fabric accompanying a heavily embroidered strapless bodice.

Lace appeared in all its glory in a dress with a train that fanned out on the carpet of the Peninsula’ Conservatory, and bows were noticed throughout the collection. According to the Señora (as Rosa Clara was addressed throughout the evening), bows are almost a trademark for the brand.

What started as a bridal shop in Barcelona in 1995 now has 150 branches around the world. In the Philippines, the brand has two branches, in Greenbelt and in S’ Maison. The señora thanked everyone, of course, but especially thanked the brides who chose to wear her designs on their special day. — JLG

Reviving history in Intramuros

LEGO blocks are most commonly used for fun and play and are rarely used as an educational tools in the Philippines. But a recent contest has changed that.

A LEGO Education Center called the iMake History Fortress held its soft opening on March 19, alongside the awarding of the iMake History Fortress Architecture Scale Model Competition, a national LEGO model-making contest of Intramuros landmarks.

The project resulted in the adaptive reuse of the Baluarte de Santa Barbara in Fort Santiago, Intramuros, which was renovated for this purpose.

The iMake History Fortress is a project of the Intramuros Administration in collaboration with the Royal Danish Embassy, and LEGO Education’s exclusive partner in the Philippines, Felta Multimedia Inc.

THE COMPETITION
Launched in August 2017, the iMake History Fortress Architecture Scale Model Competition was opened to undergraduate students in architecture, industrial design, and engineering.

Each team of three to five members was assigned to recreate a 1:100 scale model of an Intramuros landmark. Nine teams participated in the competition, while a team from the Surigao State College of Technology built a non-competing scale model of the San Francisco Church.

The scale models of Lourdes Church by students from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), of Recoletos Church by students from Don Bosco Technical College, and of Sto. Domingo Church by students from National University (NU) won first, second, and third prize, respectively.

The winning scale model by the UST students also won the Most Innovative Award. The students said that they wanted to make the model interesting by including a wedding entourage in laser-cut acrylic in the church interior, as well as placing lights on the floor to create a vanishing point effect when viewing the interior from the model’s main entrance.

The 10 scale models become the property of the Intramuros Administration.

ADAPTIVE REUSE
The Baluarte de Santa Barbara — which served as a powder magazine during the Spanish regime and was later used by the Japanese invading forces as a prison during the Second World War — will today house displays of Philippine landmarks and function as a multipurpose hall for learning.

The ground floor houses a lecture area, an exhibit area, and a photo booth; while the second floor includes a reception area, a dark room featuring glow-in-the-dark figures, a lounge, an audio-visual room, and an exhibit area for temporary displays such as the robot Philippine Eagle by the Filipino LEGO Education designer Lee Magpili.

The Administrator of the Intramuros Administration, Guiller B. Asido, said that the project is aimed at educating people on the country’s history and culture. “We wanted to make an adaptive reuse of the spaces. Our direction is to give Intramuros a new narrative through a creative approach,” he told BusinessWorld at the soft opening.

Exhibits on the second floor will be changed every six months, while the LEGO models from the competition will be on permanent display at the ground floor.

The iMake History Fortress is set to be “fully operational in April or May.” It will then be open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. No additional fee will be charged aside from the Fort Santiago entrance fee.

Mr. Asido added that projects using other spaces within the walled city are underway including the development of 44 chambers inside the wall along the Pasig river. There will also be a new museum which will house a collection of ecclesiastical objects.

Another development is the opening of Casa Azul, the Intramuros branch of the Spanish cultural center Instituto Cervantes (IC), in May. Casa Azul will function “exclusively for academic and cultural purposes,” according to a signed Memorandum of Understanding between IC and the Intramuros Administration (IA). — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

Actress, screenwriter Mely ‘Miss Tapia’ Tagasa, 82

MELY PALOMA TAGASA, best known for her portrayal of of the character Miss Tapia in IBC-13’s Iskul Bukol situational comedy series passed away early Saturday morning. She was 82.

“At 12:26 a.m., our dearly beloved Miss Tapia has joined our Creator. The gates of heaven open for her. We love you very much, Ma!” said Gina Marissa Tagasa, one of Ms. Tagasa’s daughters, in a Facebook post.

On March 22, Gina Tagasa likewise posted on Facebook that her mother had been “weaned off her respirator” and was still in coma a week after suffering a massive stroke.

“It was a tough and painful decision to make since she has been quite dependent on this machine,” she wrote before adding, “We continue to monitor her condition — her vital signs fluctuate every hour so I can’t say everything is OK.”

Ms. Tagasa’s role as the strict teacher in Iskul Bukol’s Wanbol University — a role which she played for 15 years — made her an icon of pop culture at the time alongside Victor Ungasis played by Marvic Valentin “Vic” Sotto and the Escalera brothers played by Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (now a senator) and Jose Maria “Joey” de Leon.

The series ran from 1977-1990 and spawned several spin-offs — Back to Iskul Bukol (1999), Iskul Bukol (2011, TV5’s remake) — and films, Iskul Bukol the Movie (1977), Iskul Bukol Freshmen (1980), The Best of Iskul Bukol: The Movie (1987), and Iskul Bukol 20 Years After (Ungasis and Escaleras Adventure) which premiered in 2008.

Her last film project was Sundo (2009), a horror film directed by Topel Lee. She has 70 film and TV credits to her name, according to IMDB.com.

But beyond portraying Miss Tapia, Ms. Tagasa also a well-respected screenwriter. Among many others, she wrote three Mario O’ Hara films: Kastilyong Buhangin (1980), To Mama With Love (1983), and Uhaw sa Pag-ibig (1984). Ms. Tagasa also wrote the radio-play which eventually became Mr. O’Hara’s Insiang (1976).

Ms. Tagasa also served as dubbing director for many Korean series aired on GMA as well as films including Patient X (2009) by Yam Laranas and I.T.A.L.Y (I Trust and Love you) a 2008 film by Mark A. Reyes V.

“To our beloved teacher on and off the screen. I will miss you. May you rest in the bosom of our Lord. I love you!” Vic Sotto said in a Twitter post.

“RIP Mely Tagasa. Most folks remember her for her comic performances; I remember her for some unforgettable scripts: Uhaw na Pagibig, Kastilyong Buhangin, Insiang,” author and BusinessWorld’s film critic Noel Vera, said in a Facebook post. — Zsarlene B. Chua

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